Empower Playgrounds Inc., or EPI, has an inventive solution to a problem that affects too many children in rural and undeveloped areas. Not having access to electricity and reliable lighting that is necessary for daily tasks provides an enormous challenge that many of us can’t even begin to understand. Lack of electricity can certainly make daily life a struggle, but imagine children who often have to work, study and perform other tasks without any access to lighting after dark. Unsafe lights, like kerosene lamps, are considered a luxury item for many families, even though they pose a great health and… read more

The field of solar gear has manufactured some clever products. Toy merchandise that has dipped both its feet in the solar pond has created some entertaining items. Below are a few interesting models that show what can happen when solar turns up the amusement meter. Though there are many remote control and toy cars that are powered by the sun, this solar powered racing car requires construction and attaching the solar panel before you can juice it up. The build it yourself car features an adjustable panel and a battery backup. It is fairly powerful, and can race along and… read more

Wind energy has come a long way since the introduction of windmills and towering turbines. While these remain a dominant source of wind energy, there have been innovations in wind energy design that are more environmentally and the economically practical. One of the most interesting is the Vibro-wind Panel, which is currently being developed by a team of professors and undergraduates at Cornell University. Vibro-wind is a form of micro-generation that harnesses motion and utilizes the resulting vibrations of its foam oscillators. Just as leaves flutter when the wind passes through them, the oscillators dance and twirl as breezes swoops around… read more